Caverns of Gupt Godavari ( Chitrakoot)

We left for Chitrakoot from Allahabad after having breakfast. The road to Chitrakoot is really very bad and our van had tire puncture. So we got delayed by more than an hour.

There are a number of places around Chitrakoot connected with Lord Rama. Part of the town is in UP and rest is in MP.But it appears that both states are neglecting this important pilgrim centre.

 Gupt Godavari is a perennial stream of water in the caves on Kamadgiri. It is a huge cavern with beautiful formation. Here we do not see the normal stalactite found in most of the caverns. It appears as though some persons have chipped the rocks to make this. There are pedestal formation on which idols are kept. There are three caves from one of the points water comes and to reach that point, one has to wade through the water in narrow gaps between the rocks. Even though there are electric lights, the whole place lacks proper management in handling the crowd.The whole setting is simply breath-taking, with green mountains all around. 

Since we were already running late on our schedule, we had biscuits and grapes as lunch. Then we went to  Sati Anusuiya Ashrama. This is on the banks of river Mandakini and the ashrama has lot sculpture depicting the scenes of Ramayana..From there we went to Sphatic shila where Lord Rama was resting. This stone feels very soft and smooth.We have to skip one or two places for it was getting dark and we were not too sure about the road. As we feared,  our van tire got punctured and we have to wait in a kind villager's house for 2 hours .We really experienced the hospitality of rural India. Finally we were back in our rooms by 11-30 PM.

For anyone , who likes to see the Chitrakoot area, they should plan to stay overnight at Chitrakoot, where you can get decent accommodation.

 

Quiet flows the Ganges!

Ganges at Varanasi is unique. Ganges is joined by Varan river and Asi river. The ancient city Kashi lies between the two rivers and is called Varanasi now-a-days.

The most important event, that should not be missed  is the evening Aarti at Dasashwamedh Ghat. We had the opportunity to watch this from the boat, parked in front of this ghat. Before the aarti which starts at about 6-00 PM, Most of the pilgrims go on the boat ride seeing the various ghats (numbering 40).

Our boatman, Bhailal gave us the details of all ghats, which were very interesting. Harishchandra Ghat is where the bodies are cremated and the ashes are thrown into the river. There was a big queue of bodies waiting for their turn. Most of the maharajas  have built mansions of the banks and the ghat are named after them.

Cremation at Harishchandra Ghat

The water level was low . We have to get down about 40 steps to touch the water. But, the boatman told that there was 60 feet of water in the centre of the the river. The Ganges at Varanasi looks still on the surface as though it is a lake. Lots of foreigners were taking the boat ride.

Bhailal told that Varanasi is famous for five things.1. Ganges 2. Viswanath 3.Saree 4. Pan( Betel) and 5. Brahmin's( priest) endless demands. We also saw an Aghori ( A reclusive  cannibal) sitting on the banks.

Ganga Aarti

We had a wonderful view of Ganga Aarti. Two sets of priests did the aarti.The first set of five priests dressed in red clothes  and the second set of seven priests in white dress. The rituals are the same. There were seats arranged for VIPs on the banks. The ceremony lasts for about 30 minutes. I felt that there was not a big crowd, compared to what I had seen at Haridwar.

Sun Rise 

On the western bank is the city of Varanasi. because of the various offerings of flower, mala, floating lights, the western bank is polluted. I heard that during night, this bank is cleared of the debris.So next day we took the boat to the other side where we really had a good dip.Then we proceeded to Saranath

Dr.Ambedkar Memorial Park Lucknow

 On my visit to Lucknow, I was curious to see Babasaheb Ambedkar Park, because of the newspaper comments on this project of Mayavati ( ex CM of Uttarpradesh).

Once we forget the huge funds accounted on this project, we have to but appreciate. This huge park (more than 100 acres) has no trees or plants. The entire area is laid with polished stones. This has statues of Dr. Ambedkar, Narayan Guru,Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Sant Kabir das and many others. All are huge ( about 18" tall). These statues are housed in two buildings with hemispherical domes. The entire dome is clad with metallic design. In the centre of both the buildings  are the statues of Mayavati. The statues are identical . Mayavati's figure has been sculpted on four sides ( similar to our Asoka stupa).

Dr Ambedkar's memorial building is almost 250 metres away from the Mayavati building .Dr Ambedkar's statue is unique here. The statue is in sitting posture similar to Lincoln Memorial in Washington  DC  USA.The entire stretch is lined with statues of elephants ( 25 pairs).The entire park has special lighting.Powerful beams from various points of the park converge on the sky forming like an umbrella. Most of the other lights had been switched off to save electricity. So we have to imagine only about the fully lighted park.

People will visit the Nawab's Imam baada,I feel one should visit this park also